Pieris Pharmaceuticals Appoints Immuno-Oncology Expert, Holbrook Kohrt, M.D., Ph.D., to Spearhead Immuno-Oncology Efforts and Initiates Research Collaboration with Leading Cancer Research Center
FREISING, GERMANY, May 14, 2015 – Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB: PIRS), a biotechnology company advancing its patented and proprietary Anticalin® biotherapeutic technologies, announced today that it has engaged Dr. Holbrook Kohrt, M.D., Ph.D. as Senior Advisor Translational Medicine Immuno-oncology.
Pieris has also entered into a collaboration with Dr. Kohrt’s research laboratory. As part of that alliance, Pieris will gain access to the laboratory’s capabilities to better enable the Company to advance its multispecific immuno-oncology drug candidates to in vivo proof of concept, including access to tumor tissue samples and translational mouse tumor models. Additionally, the collaboration will provide a channel for evaluating and in-licensing novel immunomodulatory targets which could serve as the basis for new Anticalin® drug discovery programs.
Dr. Kohrt is an Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology, at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He is a board certified medical oncologist and internist at the Stanford University Medical Center and is a member of the Stanford Cancer Institute. His research is focused on developing novel therapeutic strategies to enhance anti-tumor immunity and on preclinical models of novel immunomodulatory antibodies. Dr. Kohrt attended Stanford University Medical School as the Baxter Foundation Scholar, Howard Hughes Scholar, and American Society of Hematology Research Fellow. While there, he developed, validated, and nationally implemented a nomogram for risk prediction in early stage breast cancer. He has published 35 articles in peer reviewed scientific journals.
Dr. Kohrt commented, “I am excited to work with Pieris and its entire team to expand upon several exciting immuno-oncology initiatives. The Pieris Anticalin® protein technology has the potential to address immunomodulatory targets that so far have proven rather intractable for antibodies, and I’m eager to help bring these potential drug candidates to patients not adequately served with today’s therapies.”
"Dr. Kohrt’s addition to the Pieris team significantly strengthens our expertise and resources in developing potentially effective therapeutic applications for our Anticalin® platform in immuno-oncology,” commented Stephen Yoder, President and CEO of Pieris. “Gaining simultaneous access to top talent and cutting edge research capabilities in this broadly expanding therapeutic area is a clear win for Pieris.”
About Pieris Pharmaceuticals
Pieris is a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing its proprietary Anticalin® technology to create differentiated drugs that have the potential to be safer and more effective than conventional approaches. Anticalins show promise in addressing high-unmet medical needs and expanding the potential of targeted therapeutics. The company currently has a diverse proprietary pipeline and has ongoing R&D collaborations with Daiichi Sankyo, the Sanofi Group, Zydus Cadila, Stelis Biopharma and Allergan. For more information visit www.pieris.com.
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Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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Anticalin®, Anticalins® are registered trademarks of Pieris.
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Released May 14, 2015